One of the most intriguing new groups in music is Puss 'N' Boots, a female trio that includes Norah Jones, playing the Sinclair in Cambridge. Don't miss New Orleans gumbo-master Jon Cleary--you've seen him leading Bonnie Raitt's band--at The RegattaBar in harvard Square. The aptly named Bang Your Head Tour brings Quiet Riot, Gilby Clark and more to Boston's Wilbur Theater. Braid rocks Brighton Music Hall. Munk Duane sings at Tinker's Son in Norwell. Trampled Under Foot's contemporary blues at The Narrows Center in Fall River. Russ Costa's SongAsylum at Home Ice in Quincy. Songwriter Caroline Rose at Club Passim in Cambridge. Howie Randall & One Big Soul warm up The Next Page in Weymouth. The Al-8-tet for jazz fans at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge. Rockland's Los Texicanos shake up the new Loretta's Last Call in Boston (Lansdowne Street). Undersea tops the rock bill at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge. Shotgun Still heats up Toby Keith's in Foxboro. Sam Gentile tops the blues jam at Turner's Yard in Pembroke. SuperFly's funk at The Beachcomber in Quincy.

FRIDAY'S BEST

There's just no explaining, or containing, the musical mixmaster that is Gogol Bordello, bringing their hijinks to the House of Blues in Boston. Roomful of Blues a sure bet at The RegattaBar. Up and coming new country singer Kasey Lansdale at Johnny D's in Somerville. The rootsy Roosevelt Dimes at Club Passim. The Subhumans thunder into Brighton Music Hall. Soul City grooves at Ryles. It's Metal Night, with bands including he east Coast Wizards, at the C-Note in Hull. Amamanaguschi gets down at The Sinclair. Walkin' The Line's country at Toby Keith's. Razors in the Night have a CD release at Great Scott in Allston. Up the Downs rocks Home Ice. Bones Chillin' tries to warm up at Chilihead BBQ in West Bridgewater. May MacAvoy sings at Tinker's Son. The Throwdown Band takes over the Next Page. Suzanne McNeil sings at Granite Links. Bald Walter rocks Pete's Grille in Quincy.

SATURDAY'S BEST

One of today's hottest and edgiest rock bands is the Kooks, who have sold out their show at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston tonight. Keith Urban is one of the top country vocalists, but also a guitarist of jaw-dropping abilities, at The Xfinity Center in Mansfield. This summer's edition of the Turtles' Happy Together Tour is a corker, with Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, Mitch Ryder, and Gary Lewis & the Playboys, at the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset. Folkies Carrie Elkin & Danny Schmidt celebrate their new CD with a 3 p.m. show at Club Passim, with Lakeville's own Amy Correia headlining the regular 8 p.m. show. Hip hop star Everlast does an acoustic show at The Sinclair. Road trip: Beck is performing at The PPAC (Providence Performing Arts Center) with a stripped-down new album to perform. Soul, jazz and r&b when Dwight & Nicole harmonize at The RegattaBar. B-11 heats up Tinker's Son. The Gratefuls arrive at The C-Note. Hazzard County country-rocks Toby Keith's. Suzanne McNeil moves on to the Jackson Square Tavern in Weymouth. Rhythm and blues star Shor'ty Billups at Chilihead BBQ. The funky sounds of One Mo'e Time at Ryles. Milk & Boes rock Home Ice. The Rogues rip it up at The Next Page.

UPCOMING

Sunday the House of Blues hosts Country 102.5's Country Street Party, starting at noon with a long lineup of twangy acts. Sunday night the five-act Freakshow Tour hits T.T. the Bear's, topped by Collective Dreams; and Sunday night Chuckie's Cheesy Jam collects all the local fr....er, I mean musicians at Paddy Barry's in Quincy. Monday hold on when Nashville Pussy's rockabilly-on-steroids hits The Sinclair. Tuesday is a busy night: the Nine Inch nails/Soundgarden show at the Xfinity Center; Skrillex spins some magic at The Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in Boston; while rockers Midlake do an acoustic show at Brighton Music Hall. Wednesday night finds The Fray rocking the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion; while Rixton rocks The Paradise; and the hardball sound of The Baseball Project visits Great Scott. July 31 is also a night packed with good music: rockabilly babe Imelda May at The Paradise; Ms. Lauryn Hill's sultry music at The House of Blues; and the lively ska-rock of Slightly Stoopid at Blue Hills Bank Pavilion. Heads up for The Supersuckers gig at The Sinclair on August 3, because Beantown's Muck & the Mires are opening with their gritty garage rock. The best rock band we ever heard out of Columbus, Ohio, Red Wanting Blue, touches down at Brighton Music Hall on August 14.

THURSDAY'S BEST
One of the most intriguing new groups in music is Puss 'N' Boots, a female trio that includes Norah Jones, playing the Sinclair in Cambridge. Don't miss New Orleans gumbo-master Jon Cleary--you've seen him leading Bonnie Raitt's band--at The RegattaBar in harvard Square. The aptly named Bang Your Head Tour brings Quiet Riot, Gilby Clark and more to Boston's Wilbur Theater. Braid rocks Brighton Music Hall. Munk Duane sings at Tinker's Son in Norwell. Trampled Under Foot's contemporary blues at The Narrows Center in Fall River. Russ Costa's SongAsylum at Home Ice in Quincy. Songwriter Caroline Rose at Club Passim in Cambridge. Howie Randall & One Big Soul warm up The Next Page in Weymouth. The Al-8-tet for jazz fans at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge. Rockland's Los Texicanos shake up the new Loretta's Last Call in Boston (Lansdowne Street). Undersea tops the rock bill at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge. Shotgun Still heats up Toby Keith's in Foxboro. Sam Gentile tops the blues jam at Turner's Yard in Pembroke. SuperFly's funk at The Beachcomber in Quincy.
FRIDAY'S BEST
There's just no explaining, or containing, the musical mixmaster that is Gogol Bordello, bringing their hijinks to the House of Blues in Boston. Roomful of Blues a sure bet at The RegattaBar. Up and coming new country singer Kasey Lansdale at Johnny D's in Somerville. The rootsy Roosevelt Dimes at Club Passim. The Subhumans thunder into Brighton Music Hall. Soul City grooves at Ryles. It's Metal Night, with bands including he east Coast Wizards, at the C-Note in Hull. Amamanaguschi gets down at The Sinclair. Walkin' The Line's country at Toby Keith's. Razors in the Night have a CD release at Great Scott in Allston. Up the Downs rocks Home Ice. Bones Chillin' tries to warm up at Chilihead BBQ in West Bridgewater. May MacAvoy sings at Tinker's Son. The Throwdown Band takes over the Next Page. Suzanne McNeil sings at Granite Links. Bald Walter rocks Pete's Grille in Quincy.
SATURDAY'S BEST
One of today's hottest and edgiest rock bands is the Kooks, who have sold out their show at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston tonight. Keith Urban is one of the top country vocalists, but also a guitarist of jaw-dropping abilities, at The Xfinity Center in Mansfield. This summer's edition of the Turtles' Happy Together Tour is a corker, with Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, Mitch Ryder, and Gary Lewis & the Playboys, at the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset. Folkies Carrie Elkin & Danny Schmidt celebrate their new CD with a 3 p.m. show at Club Passim, with Lakeville's own Amy Correia headlining the regular 8 p.m. show. Hip hop star Everlast does an acoustic show at The Sinclair. Road trip: Beck is performing at The PPAC (Providence Performing Arts Center) with a stripped-down new album to perform. Soul, jazz and r&b when Dwight & Nicole harmonize at The RegattaBar. B-11 heats up Tinker's Son. The Gratefuls arrive at The C-Note. Hazzard County country-rocks Toby Keith's. Suzanne McNeil moves on to the Jackson Square Tavern in Weymouth. Rhythm and blues star Shor'ty Billups at Chilihead BBQ. The funky sounds of One Mo'e Time at Ryles. Milk & Boes rock Home Ice. The Rogues rip it up at The Next Page.
UPCOMING
Sunday the House of Blues hosts Country 102.5's Country Street Party, starting at noon with a long lineup of twangy acts. Sunday night the five-act Freakshow Tour hits T.T. the Bear's, topped by Collective Dreams; and Sunday night Chuckie's Cheesy Jam collects all the local fr....er, I mean musicians at Paddy Barry's in Quincy. Monday hold on when Nashville Pussy's rockabilly-on-steroids hits The Sinclair. Tuesday is a busy night: the Nine Inch nails/Soundgarden show at the Xfinity Center; Skrillex spins some magic at The Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in Boston; while rockers Midlake do an acoustic show at Brighton Music Hall. Wednesday night finds The Fray rocking the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion; while Rixton rocks The Paradise; and the hardball sound of The Baseball Project visits Great Scott. July 31 is also a night packed with good music: rockabilly babe Imelda May at The Paradise; Ms. Lauryn Hill's sultry music at The House of Blues; and the lively ska-rock of Slightly Stoopid at Blue Hills Bank Pavilion. Heads up for The Supersuckers gig at The Sinclair on August 3, because Beantown's Muck & the Mires are opening with their gritty garage rock. The best rock band we ever heard out of Columbus, Ohio, Red Wanting Blue, touches down at Brighton Music Hall on August 14.